Interval training does not modulate diastolic function in heart transplant recipients.
Monk-Hansen T, Dall CH, et al.Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal 2014; 48(2): 91-98
Aims
The study aims were to investigate the left ventricular diastolic function of stable heart transplant recipients at rest and during exercise, to determine whether findings were related to exercise capacity before or after an intensive eight week training programme, and to evaluate echocardiographic parameters during rest or exercise to predict the effect of training.
Interventions
Patients were randomised to a control group of no training, or to an eight week high intensity training programme with three supervised sessions weekly. The session consisted of interval blocks of 4min/2min/30s at 80%, 85% and 90% of VO2peak, a recovery period of 3min/1min/30s, followed by 10min of running up a staircase at 80% of VO2peak.
Participants
23 stable heart transplant recipients >18 years.
Outcomes
The outcomes included echocardiographic parameters, diastolic function at baseline in relation to exercise capacity, effect of intervention on systolic and diastolic ventricular function, heart rate and VO2peak.
Follow-up
8 weeks.
CET Conclusions
This manuscript reports a small sub-study of interval exercise testing in cardiac transplant recipients more than one year after transplantation. 30 participants were randomised to interval training or control, and the authors demonstrate that whilst exercise performance (measured by peak VO2) improves with training, diastolic function does not change on echocardiographic assessment. The study is hampered by its small size, with no power calculation reported and a 20% dropout rate in the control arm. There is also no clear description of how patients were selected for the sub study from the overall study population, introducing risk of selection bias.
Data analysis
Per protocol analysis
Quality notes
Previously assessed in Hermann TS, et al. Effect of high intensity exercise on peak oxygen update and endothelial function in long-term heart transplant recipients. American Journal of Transplantation. 2011; 11:536-541
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov – NCT01028599